Bill Hagan

Best wishes in your search. Hope to see you here as a new Guzzisto sometime soon. Wondering where you are, as "see if i can blag a ride" doesn't sound Atlantan.

This book has come up before. Run a search for "Melissa," etc. A few months ago, I had a long plane ride and a weekend business trip. As I often do if I'm not in the middle of a good book already, I stopped by Borders on the way to the airport and buy something for the trip. Saw a new hardback, "Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America," by Karen Larsen, and got it. General story is a memoir of an early-30's-something leaving Princeton (town and school) to ride a HD Sportster deep into Alaska and back. Both great and disappointing. Never quite an Annie Dillard, Ms. Larsen can nevertheless write engagingly, and her words on motorcycles and traveling generally are fine. She has true grit, too, as anybody who can ride--as it appears she did--in seriously cold and wet weather and describe it well and unwhiningly is OK by me. On the downside, from my vantage, some of the HD-centric stuff leaves me cold, and her internal struggles with old boyfriend and romp(s) with those along the road are a bit on the "chick book" side of the house for me. Some classic Mars-Venus stuff where she chews the cud for maddening pages before and after, while the guys (left behind and found) probably didn't have a clue about all this angst except "during." Reminds me of that great Dave Barry piece that ends, "Norm, did Elaine ever own a horse?'' See http://www.naute.com/jokes/guys.phtml Anyway, if you are snowbound and eager for motorcycling books of any kind, see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...392002?v=glance As for other genres, I like but have little time for fiction, so I tend to read history and biography almost exclusively. If you like that sort of thing, just finishing “Washington's Crossing,” by David Hackett Fischer, a great and readable account of a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. There has been little serious scholarship of this event, and it has thus slipped, enshrouded in legend, into what passes for history. http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subj...170342&view=usa About the only thing I really wanted (and shamelessly and successfully hinted) for as a Christmas gift is a new book by Edward M. Coffman, “The Regulars: the American Army, 1898-1941.” This is the sequel to his 1987 classic, “The Old Army,” which told the untold story of the peacetime Army from 1789 to 1898. Coffman used many primary sources to view that Army through eyes and words of contemporary officers, soldiers, wives (this was before “spouses,” you understand ), children, and more. Great stuff. As for “The Regulars,” too soon to tell, but appears to be, as one reviewer found, "an exceptionally gracefully written, scrupulously researched, professionally objective, endlessly interesting administrative and social history of a crucial 40 years for the U.S. Army.” http://www.hup.harvard.edu/reviews/COFREG_R.html Yeah, I know. Zzzzzzzz. Merry Christmas and a Guzzi New Year! Bill

Heartily concur with Tim. I have and hear quite enough political and similar opinions elsewhere--and seemingly everywhere--without finding them where I come, as I do with motorcycling generally, to escape that "real" world. Buon Anno. Bill

Absolutely re earplugs and noisy helmets. 'Course, you are the first Brit I've encountered with a taste for bourbon. Well done, Sir. Well done.

I appreciate that--as in understand that $ are $--but, as I am sure you agree, there is more to life ... and buying and riding motorcycles ... than bottom lines. This horse has, I suspect, been beaten to death in various threads here and elsewhere, but it bears noting again now and then that one should support a local dealer for altruistic and self-serving reasons. I buy what I can--motorcycles and accessories--from Atlanta Triumph Ducati (Moto Guzzi) because they are great folks, do super work, and are in business here. If they don't have it, I look to dealers who care about Guzzis (MPH and Harpers come immediately to mind) because there ought to be some payback for loyalty to and enthusiasm for our slightly loony brand. ATDMG will, of course, do warranty work for folks who don't buy there, even local folks who might buy in California. But, when I need service as in "right now," somehow that happens. I don't ask unless I need it, but when I do, it happens. That is not--and, I submit, should not--be the case for those who choose to help profit and volume interests of folks elsewhere. In other words, it ain't just politics that is local, it's life. We're all different about money, and not just in the amount we have, but how we think about it. I pay for (and get) more than the bill-of-sale price. Regards from Atlanta, where, after spending a few hours at Home Depot this a.m., I am about to go play in the dirt of our garden instead of the twisties. I shouldn't be greedy, tho as I played hooky Thursday and had a fine ride in the mountains. http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=9wgryyin.22qdszsj&x=0&y=-9t8gc6 Bill

Any particular reason you can't do business with ATD (MG)? Bill Inman Park Atlanta

Baldini's "I'll vote when I've tried more tires" is, of course, the smart approach, but I went ahead and voted for the M1's. As with all such things, it's likely an "it depends." At same time, the V11 Sport variants are not grand tourers, etc., so it seems to me, that unlike my EV, the goal is performance, not mileage, etc. I have 13+K miles on my Ballabio now, on all sorts of roads, but relatively few slab miles and many leaning ones. I am on my 5th set of rear tires. before you think, "WHAT!?" , bear in mind that the first four rears were nailed, and one at 600 miles. I went with 180 Metzler M1's (the stock offering) for first three, then switched to 170, then went 170 Michelin Pilot Roads. I VERY much like the 170 over the 180, and the difference is almost startling to me. The brand is less of an issue as I find both M1 and MPR pretty fine. I did feel--as opposed to know for sure--that the M1's were stickier on all surfaces and weather conditions. That said, the MPR's are fine, and I would not hesitate remounting them when the time comes ... hopefully from miles, not nails! Bill

Many thanks to you both. I am excited about having a garage built soon, so I can give such fixes a shot on my own instead of having to count on dealer. They are good folks, but are not going to go th the trouble to "custom" mechanical work. Of course, as a tyro wrench, I may sideline my Guzzis unintentionally when I manage to do an "Aw @#$%^." Again, very much appreciate your effort to diagnose, fix, and--best--record your experiences and observations. Bill

Randy, et al, Whatever the improvement in lighting up the road ahead, and I do think it is perceptible in your photos, the cost may be worth it from a conspicuity point of view. I think--code for "anecdotal, my specialty, thus not real data"--that cagers see us better out there with these "white" lights, both at night and daytime. I ran one for a bit in my EV and liked that part of it. I encountered shorter bulb life than I hoped, so haven't gone back. I am inclined to try again now. Bill

My apologies for not crediting you for the info. Thanks ... again.

Now you tell me. I just back from a 2K (great) ride in Ga., S.C., N.C., Va., W.Va., Md, & Pa., mountains. Whole time I carried with me an extra spring, your directions, and all the right tools. I also shamelessly and selfishly prayed to be spared. I was. Now at 13K+. Dealer is doing 12K service next week, and, tho I'll be out of town, I'll ask 'em to check yet again on boss size. When I get my !@#$%^ garage built, I'll give you a more definitive answer (with pics!) as to my boss size.

I leave tomorrow for a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, about 650 miles away. I'm taking 4 days to get there. Anyway, I am taking an extra spring and the printouts & pics from here with me. Have this vision of a side-of-the-road nighttime tranny surgery session. I'm at 11K+ indicated, tho my speedo was out for about a K (after last spring failure at 6.5K or so). I'm praying to the same Guzzi gods, fickle as they may be. I'd sacrifice a virgin if I could find one. Anyone here living along the way [generally Asheville, Roanoke, Charlottesville, and returning on Fri via more W.V. route] who wants to laugh at a Ballabio in full touring gear, call me on the road. 404.808.8486 (mobile) I've already arranged to meet some Guzzisti in Virginia, and one--a Jackal owner-- is going to test the Ballabio to see if he wants to switch sides. Bill

[Most of] What Steve said. I especially agree with his first sentence. While I do agree with Steve and, no doubt, most of us here, that this jerk should not be selling motorcycles, I recommend you go slow with: "make it a mission to smear this guys name in every way you can. Say bad things about him when ever you can, try to kill his business by word of mouth warnings. Post leaflets warning motorcyclists of this shop. Tell everyone on bikes he is by far the most expensive shop in town for oil, tires, all the stuff he makes money on." You may find yourself in more legal trouble than you can afford to get out of. This a-hole will collapse on his own, either because others will do the smearing, or, more likely, that kind of "business' is bad business. Finally, one option is, believe it or not, discuss it with him. May be a waste of time, but you will have tried. Not suggesting you prostrate yourself, but airing this sort of thing can sometimes result in getting what I got once (albeit not at a m/c shop): an apology and explanation. The guy's wife had left him the night before and trashed the house, etc. Thought he was going to cry on me. My point is that if you take the high road, you will at least have the satisfaction of that, and it will stand you in good stead with MGNA (FWTW! ). And, whatever happens, you have a Ballabio. Ain't it sweet? Best wishes.

OK, I've run a search, but either I'm inept (my default position) or there is nothing there (unlikely) about neutral lights deciding to quit. Mine did this a.m., but, as with things electrical in mtorcycles, it may decide to work this afternoon. Not sure if bulb has died, or contact lost, or what, but I get no green light in neutral. Not a big thing, as neutral is quite easy to find by feel, but, if a bear to fix, better ID this while I'm midway thru warranty. Unrelated item: Pulled up under the mc shelter this a.m. with my odo reading 10018 miles after 12 months and a day or two with the Ballabio. "Another brand" was already parked there. The guy has has had his m/c for 4 years. His odo? 3022 miles.

More or less ditto (tho I'm not sure about that last 100 mile part ). Just turned one year and 10K on my Ballabio. Nice then; nicer now. Took it all over the "usual suspects" in the Georgia mountains yesterday and it sang arias for me curve after intoxicating curve. My 98 EV has 59K and is showing age quite gracefully, too, btw.

Hey, Bill, you're what Mr. President Bush calls a 'stand-up-kinda-guy'! No messin' about, just do it (whether right or wrong) I'm just wondering if those were signs, or whether it might have been just a new big boot thing? Or you needed the benefit of a gearbox oil change? Did the feel of the up-shifts change as soon as the new spring went in, boots or no boots? You would have had a gear oil change at the same time as the spring went in of course. The thing is that the spring is stressed on the down shifts, rather than the upshifts (as I remember it). I'm trying to picture the bits and pieces of gubbinsmahoobie in my weary mind. Someone whose brain is clearer at the moment might have a better observation on this. I'm not convinced that there would be a long period of poor changes, especially on the upshift, due to the spring working itself towards breaking point. I know your boss was found to be 15mm, surprisingly and disappointingly. Was there any information on the state of the shift plate along the edge where the spring hook locates? First, I doubt if KB (Baldini) has insensitive toes or that mine are terrifically tactile And, as for "boots or no boots," I never tried shifting barefooted. I plead guilty to your political metaphor, too. But, in this instance, my vivid memories of looking at my Ballabio thru the rearview mirrors of an (empty) U-Haul truck, towing a trailer with said Guzzi mounted in it, for 500 miles, account for my Nike approach to things. As for signs, you make a point about the gear oil change, but, to the extent I understand such things at all (a dangerous supposition for any reader here!), I have never--but for the phenomenom of the "undropped" gear or whatever-- experienced any but the smoothest of shifting. While, yes, the gearbox oil was changed out at least when spring was replaced (and, possibly at first maintenance), "feel" has never varied. Compared to my EV, at least, it's always been nigh on to Nipponese snick, snick, snick. As for "Did the feel of the up-shifts change as soon as the new spring went in," Yes. Decidedly yes. Have not, in 3K miles since, had more than two +/- instances of "Shix, where did 4th (or whichever) go?" And, those two or so exceptions were my own sloppy shifting. I hear you re "The thing is that the spring is stressed on the down shifts, rather than the upshifts (as I remember it)." I can only tell you that my own problem was with upshifts only and, indeed, when it failed, I was going from 2d to 3d. That would not seem to me, i.e., my ever-valuable-in-such-cases liberal-arts mind , inconsistent with the stress being downshifts, as the the last down shift may well have caused the break, with the discovery happening with the next upshift. I can recall quite clearly (tho I can't find here or at wildguzzi, my posts about thinking it was the boots) the sensation of up shifting into, e.g., 2d, then to find, as I attempted 3d, to feel "give," not engagement. That hasn't happened since. I know your boss was found to be 15mm [so the dealer said], but I did not ask (and doubt if these folks noted (whether there or not) anything about the state of the shift plate. They did say they saw nothing whatever extraordinary except for the broken spring. BTW, I have that item, and have not sent it off to whomever it was who said they 'd study it. I have tried to take useful photos, but am either too inept with my camera or it's just not up to the task of showing such close-up detail. "I'm not convinced that there would be a long period of poor changes, especially on the upshift, due to the spring working itself towards breaking point." Understand your point, and am similarly befogged. Not sure there is a Nobel in this for you, but I'll be in Oslo for the ceremony if you break the code in this. I am confident we'll have the answer someday. In the meantime, I carry your instructions, etc., as if a relic of the True Cross.

My apologies … twice. First, I was not especially clear when I said I had prior warning. Second, I thought I responded yesterday. Anyway, I have about 10K on my Ballabio now (not awesome, but not bad for a year, especially when I had to share its miles with the EV). The spring failed—as in broke and left me stranded 500 miles and $550 from home—at, as I recall, about 6.5K. At some point well before that—and I'll just take a SWAG and say c.4K—I began to have difficulty making upshifts now and then. This was more than the occasional missed shift (I hope) we all make, but, instead, I would find, as I attempted to toe up the lever, that it moved up, but nothing happened, i.e., the gear had not dropped internally (or whatever it does internally!) to be ready for the shift. I attributed (and even posted about) this as a "new boot" thing, as I had just switched from worn-out Alpinstars to Teknics. The latter were much stiffer, and I thought it was simply that I was not dropping my toe after shifts. Wrong. My point is that if you are lucky enough to get these advance signs, as described above, assume you are about to join the ranks of the undone by a cheap spring. Carry belfastguzzi's step-by-step instructions, an extra spring, and the right tools with you if you take any trips well away from home base or a dealer. I do.

My Ballabio has c.10K now, after having the "spring thing" event at c. 6.5K Looking back on it, I had warning signals, lots of 'em, but I didn't know what they meant. So, when I feel the no-mistake-about-it failure to drop -- even once -- when I upshift, that side plate's coming off and another spring's going in. So far, tho, all is well. [no jinx, bento, no jinx.]

Tried Joe Eish, 330-738-7944? Have parts # handy. $5 says he has it. If I'm wrong, collect at convenience in cash or beer.

Face it, Av, you've been seduced. Nothing to do now but go along and enjoy it. Seriously, one of the great things about this (and, in my opinion, the several other Guzzi boards around) is that Guzzisti are honest ... with themselves and others. Sure, we are as human as the next motorcycle loon, thus we love our Mandello machines illogically. At the same time, most of us temper our affection with candor. So, you will not see two things here as often as I have seen those elsewhere: intemperate, profane rants about how bad Guzzis are or, the reverse, i.e., unjustified paeans of puppy-love infatuations. If you have strolled through past posts here, you know what I mean. Guzzis have some warts. But, to me, one of the great examples of "in-house" fixes are the "pawl-spring" threads. Yup, a potentially (and, in several of our cases, including mine, real) disabling problem. At same time, because of, in particular, belfastguzzi's efforts, that problem is now known, addressed, and a mere possible annoyance rather than a month-long scream. But, even that misses the real point. Guzzis are what I call a "brown egg," a bit different. Probably always will be. Good. But, as a result, dealer support can be seemingly nonexistent. Thankfully, Guzzis are also, if not bullet proof, at least "easy" to work on. I have two Guzzis. Best material possessions I've ever owned. Nothing inaminate has given me greater joy. Will that be your experience? Can't say. But, as I said at the outset, think it's too late for you. You are in love. Best wishes. Hope to see soon that you made the leap. Bill

It takes a week and you are dealer?!? Hope it was near home. Would have been awkward on some of those cowpaths we rode weekend 'fore last.

AJ, that's why I've taken to saying Hail Marys when I ride. Lord knows--literally--I need 'em, and, besides, the mantra keeps me from thinking impure thoughts about hydraulics and other issues I know nothing about and which will torment, not soothe me.

The first half of Antonio's post is certainly correct. Actually, you simply cannot go wrong ... well, unless somehow you end up on the autostrada in a traffic jam. Assuming you are renting from Agostini's, ask them. They will have more suggestions than you can ride in two months, much less two days. And, you really cannot go wrong. All SS roads north of the Po Valley are delights. Best wishes. Post pics & a ride report. Bill

Actually, yes, but in my cage, and a 244 Volvo at that! In the late '80's, came around a long sweeper at 90+ on what I thought was deserted back road in SE Georgia (yeah, that's a bit redundant! ), to see a state-police roadblock. Turns out they were looking for an escaped convict, and were masterfully placed to be undedected with no escape route. After a Hotel Sierra decel, I pulled up to the unsmiling trooper with the outstretched hand (while four or more others had leveled shotguns and other quite impressive ordnance. They dropped their artillery when they saw the wife, kids, and cocker spaniel (the last eager to drool on anybody). After examining my DL & registration, the trooper -- who looked right out of the movies of Southern law enforcement, and not like someone who had a sense of humor -- deadpanned: "Son, better not touch your hood for an hour or so after you get home. Takes awhile for 'em to cool on reentry. Have a safe day. You, too, ma'am."